EVERY senior considering college should file either FAFSA or ORSAA (not both - complete whichever you are eligible for), regardless of you or your family's economic situation, legal status, or your certainty about your post-secondary plan!
The FAFSA is the application through the federal government that determines a student's eligibility for various types of need-based financial aid, including scholarships, grants, work study, and loans for US citizens and eligible non-citizens. Some merit-based scholarships require the FAFSA, even if they do not base their scholarship decisions on financial need, so EVERY senior who is eligible for the FAFSA and is considering college should apply.
For US citizens and eligible non-citizens (full list of eligible non-citizens can be found on the U.S. Federal Student Aid website)
Determines eligibility for need-based aid (loans, grants, scholarships, work study)
Confidential (information not shared with other branches of government or other institutions)
Opens December 1, 2024 and remains open all school year
Class of 2025 will fill out the 2025/26 FAFSA Form (not yet open)
Step 1: student and parent create FSA ID (account for the FAFSA) (social security number required for student FSA ID*) - You can do this NOW to prepare for when the FAFSA opens!
Step 2: student completes 2025/26 FAFSA form once it is available, invites parent contributor, and parent completes parent section of 2025/26 FAFSA form (using 2023 tax information)
In January 2023, Federal Student Aid released the “Better FAFSA” and it was a bumpy release! Hopefully it runs more smoothly for the Class of 2025, but be prepared for glitches and challenges.
More information about the FAFSA and FSA ID from Get Schooled here:
General FAFSA overview: https://getschooled.com/journey/get-to-college/fafsa/
Create FSA ID: https://getschooled.com/journey/get-to-college/fafsa/how-to-create-an-fsa-id/
Any students who is a US citizen or an eligible non-citizen should fill out the FAFSA. If a students is eligible for the FAFSA, and their parent does not have a social security number, the student should fill out the FAFSA and invite their parents to contribute to their FAFSA.
For more resources and information on the process for students in this situation, check out this FAFSA Hub for Mixed-Status Families
*social security number not required for parent contributors to create FSA ID (instead of parent SSN, there are alternate steps to complete for mixed status families)
The ORSAA is an application through the Oregon state government that determines eligibility for various types of financial aid, including many scholarships and grants for students who are undocumented or have DACA. Since ORSAA is awarded through the Oregon state government, students who are eligible for ORSAA will be considered for Oregon grants, but not for grants from the Federal government.
For students who are Oregon residents and are undocumented or have DACA status
Determines eligibility for certain need-based aid (grants, scholarships, tuition reduction)
Confidential (information not shared with other branches of government or other institutions)
Typically opens Oct 1 and remains open all school year (opening usually aligns with FAFSA, which is December 1 this year)
Step 1: confirm you are eligible for the ORSAA and create an account using this filter tool: https://oregonstudentaid.gov/fafsa-orsaa/fafsaorsaa-filter-tool/ - You can do this NOW to prepare for when the ORSAA opens!
Step 2: complete the ORSAA when it opens (using 2023 tax information). Learn more and complete ORSAA: https://oregonstudentaid.gov/fafsa-orsaa.aspx
Students who are US citizens or are eligible non-citizens do NOT file ORSAA. They file FAFSA, regardless of their parent’s immigration status. No student should file FAFSA and ORSAA. You ONLY submit the application you are eligible for.
FAFSA/ORSAA Student Workshops
Come get individual help on the FAFSA/ORSAA
Thursday, January 29 from 10:00 am - 11:30 am. Click to join.
Tuesday, February 4 from 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm. Click to join.
Tuesday, February 11 from 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm. Click to join.
Thursday, February 20 from 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm. Click to join.
Thursday, February 27 from 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm. Click to join.